Harbor vs Docker Hub

Self-host swap-in for Docker Hub. · Self-host Docker Hub · Harbor on os-alt

Harbor is one of the open-source self-host replacements for Docker Hub — license Apache-2.0, 30min — `installer.sh` with bundled compose (Harbor + Postgres + Redis + Trivy) to stand up, and $10-30/mo vps — storage scales with image volume; back with s3-compatible blob store. Compare against Docker Hub's Personal Free; Pro $7/user/mo (200 image pulls/6h); Team $11/user/mo; Business $24/user/mo below.

	Harboropen-source	Docker Hubpaid SaaS
Category	Container image registry	Container image registry
License / pricing	`Apache-2.0`	Personal Free; Pro $7/user/mo (200 image pulls/6h); Team $11/user/mo; Business $24/user/mo
Starting price	$0 self-host	$7/user/mo
GitHub	goharbor/harbor ★ 28.5k · last commit todayalive	closed source
Setup time	30min — `installer.sh` with bundled compose (Harbor + Postgres + Redis + Trivy)	SaaS — sign up + bill
Monthly cost	$10-30/mo VPS — storage scales with image volume; back with S3-compatible blob store.	from $7/user/mo (Personal Free; Pro $7/user/mo (200 image pulls/6h); Team $11/user/mo; Business $24/user/mo)

Switching from Docker Hub to Harbor

Download the Harbor installer from goharbor.io/docs/2.x/install-config/, edit `harbor.yml` (hostname + storage), run `./install.sh`. Migrate from Docker Hub: `docker login` to your Harbor instance, then loop your Hub images: `docker pull hub.docker.com/myorg/img:tag && docker tag ... && docker push harbor.example.com/proj/img:tag`. Skopeo (`skopeo copy --all docker://hub.docker.com/myorg/img docker://harbor.example.com/proj/img`) handles multi-arch in one shot.

Good fit for: Production registries — Harbor bundles vulnerability scanning (Trivy), image signing (Cosign/Notary), RBAC, project quotas.
Weak at: Multi-service install; smaller projects find Distribution simpler.

Other open-source self-host alternatives to Docker Hub

Distribution (CNCF)
Apache-2.05min docker run$3-10/mo VPS; storage on local disk or S3.
Sonatype Nexus Repository OSS
EPL-1.020min docker run$15/mo VPS — JVM, needs at least 2GB RAM.

In a terminal? npx os-alt docker-hub prints Docker Hub's self-host options — how the CLI works →

FAQ

Is Harbor a free alternative to Docker Hub?

Yes — Harbor is open source under Apache-2.0. Self-host cost: $10-30/mo VPS — storage scales with image volume; back with S3-compatible blob store.. Docker Hub starts at $7/user/mo (Personal Free; Pro $7/user/mo (200 image pulls/6h); Team $11/user/mo; Business $24/user/mo).

How long does Harbor take to set up vs Docker Hub?

Self-hosting Harbor: 30min — `installer.sh` with bundled compose (Harbor + Postgres + Redis + Trivy). Docker Hub is a hosted SaaS — sign up and you're in.

What is Harbor good at, and what is it weak at?

Good fit for: Production registries — Harbor bundles vulnerability scanning (Trivy), image signing (Cosign/Notary), RBAC, project quotas.. Weak at: Multi-service install; smaller projects find Distribution simpler..